education essay

The Benchmarking Process Essay Education Essay

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Introduction

This essay is required to choose and learn two respected leaders (Mother Teresa and Mohandas Gandhi), and aimed to conduct a self assessment process from the research finding.

This essay contains three parts.

In the first part, there will be general discussions about the two leaders focusing on leadership factors based on their life stories. Some important qualities, driving force, memories, quotes, major decision points.

Second part will list all the important leadership factors of the two leaders, such as values, beliefs, skills strategies and etc, and throughout a matrix, by comparing with those characterises against my own leadership qualities in order to gain a self assessment of leadership ability.

The third part will develop a self evaluation of leadership abilities by using personality profiling systems.

The purpose of this essay is developing a self understanding about own leadership weakness by comparing the two chosen leaders through a bench mark matrix in order to conduct a Leadership Development Plan which is the second part of the whole assignment.

Finding

Brief Introduction of two leaders

Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997)

Mother Teresa is known as the most fascinating and respected women of the twentieth century based on her selfless dedication of helping the poor, sick and orphaned people in India.

Major Decision Points:

Mother Teresa was born in a wealthy family. At the age of 18, she decided to leave home and join the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary.

She left nunnery in to slums in 1948, and started tending to the needs of the poor. Since then she had been sacrificing everything to alleviate the poverty and living in poor.

In 1950, she started the Missionaries of Charity.

In 1983, she suffered her first heart attack, but she continued working for the poor until the end of her life in 1997.

Driving Force:

Going through her whole life, religion (Roman Catholicism) is her most important driving force. Most of her decisions and believes (such as choosing to be living like poor people) are based on Catholic views.

Another driving force of hers would be her sympathy. She believed that "the deepest poverty is not being loved", that is why she sacrificed everything to love those poor people.

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."

"Peace begins with a smile."

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet com. We have only today. Let us begin."

"I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things."

Mohandas Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Mohandas Gandhi was a political leader of India. He fought for the rights of the Indians in South Africa and helped India gained independence.

Major Decision Points:

In 1883, Mohandas Gandhi was married at a young age of 13. (Although it was not his own decision, it could be his first time that he ever wanted to fight against inhumanity)

In 1888, Mohandas Gandhi left for London to study law.

In 1893 Mohandas Gandhi went to South Africa. Later on he started to fight for the rights of the Indians there and finally reached an agreement with Smuts, the Prime Minister of the Transvaal. (190-1914)

In 1906, Mohandas Gandhi ended his sexual activity.

(World War I)

In 1915, He returned to India and entered into politics, continued assisting poverty and spoke against certain British policies at discriminated against Indians.

Driving Force:

Very strong desire of human rights! As a 14-years-old boy, he had read a lot of Hindu Scriptures and India Classics which inspired him about importance of human rights. Those theories and beliefs became his own strength and belief in his later years.

His sympathy to people who was not treated fairly would be another driving force.

Memories:

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

Bench mark Matrix

Quality

Mother Teresa

Mohandas Gandhi

I

Values

Faithfulness

Self-discipline

Sympathy

Selflessness

Care

Humility

Humanity

Self-discipline

Non-violence

Empathy

Humility

Humanity

Sympathy

Persistence

Responsibility

Sympathy

Self-discipline

Empathy

Beliefs

Religious

Being poor is an honour thing

Promoting humanity

Abortion is the beginning of all the evil behaviour

Non-violence

Religious

Promoting humanity

Strength come from Indomitable will rather then muscle

Non-violence

Spending less time on judging others gives more time to work.

Attitude

Courageous

Enduring

Enthusiasm

Leadership by example

Compassion

Courageous

Persistence

Leadership by example

Intelligent

Humble

Enthusiasm

Compassion

Task-oriented, not people-oriented

Leadership Traits

Integrity

Honest

Competent

Straightforward

Inspiring

Forward-looking

Charisma

Integrity

Determination

Intelligent

Forward-looking

Leading by example

Honest

Determination

Straightforward

Personal Skills

Coaching Skills

Speech Skills

Persuasion

Planning

English Speaking

Speech Skills

Sociability

Negotiating Skills

Decision-making

Planning

Decision-making

Planning

Organizing work

Strategies

Lead by example

Start the Missionaries of Charity

Run schools and orphanages for poor

Fasting

Non-violence Non-cooperation

Approach government for compromise

Uniting Muslims and Hindus to work together

Lead by example, mind own responsibilities firstly.

Coaching others if necessary

Self-awareness of leadership abilities

Major Decision Points:

I decided coming to New Zealand to study Information Technology and living in a multicultural environment.

I quitted previous job and decided continuing education in Management of Business.

Driving Force:

Desire of acknowledgement in an organization: Seeking self-esteem and acknowledgement has been one of my strongest driving force pushing me work hard and responsible in my work and study period.

Desire of living in a multicultural environment: I enjoy meeting and making friends with different kinds of people from different background. That was the main reason that I left my own country and start my life in New Zealand..

Strength:

Straightforward: When I work as a team leader, I have the ability to concentrate on the tasks only, and try everything just to make the jobs done. As a leader, I have the ability to maintain team activities focusing on the project goal.

Trouble shooting: When I work as a team leader, because of my technical skills, I have the ability to provide possible solutions and meet the requirements right away.

Leading by example: When I work as a team leader, I am able to follow the business instruction and meet the clients' requirements as well as other team members or better. When I asked the team members to do work overtime or on own private time in order to complete the job on time, I was willing to the same too.

Sympathy: When I work as a team leader, I have the ability to understand team members' difficulties. If they have problems to do their work, I am always willing to stand in and try my best to help them. To customers, I also have the ability to think for them, try my best to choose the best solution or method to help them.

Weakness:

Lack of communication skills: When I work, sometimes I loss track of other people's feelings. It is also because of my lack of communication skills. I don't have the ability to do the job and creating a good working environment at the same time.

As a team leader, I am not able to influence and motivate the team members to work efficiently. Every time they come up with an excuse or personal reason, I don't have the ability to maintain them in a working attitude. I always jump into their businesses and complete their tasks for them instead. I don't have the desire and ability to argue or negotiate with them.

Not forward looking: When I work, I always focus on the tasks in hand only. I don't have the ability to vision and predict the future risks or threats related to the job. And there are a lot of new technologies coming out every day over the world. I don't have the desire of learning new technologies.

Not persistent, easy to be influenced: When I work, I am not able to influence and motivate the team members to work. When the team member comes up with a personal reason that he could finish the work, I don't have the ability to maintain them in a working attitude and jump into their businesses and complete their tasks for them instead. I don't have the desire and ability to argue or negotiate with them.

Lack of English Speaking skills: When I work, I find my English speaking skill is not good enough, especially social conversation with clients.

Cultural Context of Leadership

As a Chinese, I have a Chinese culture background influencing my leadership style. I believe and highly rely on centralized organisation structures. It means that I prefer few people have clear knowledge and give instructions to direct organizational activities. (High Power/Distance Culture) High level managers should have clear ideas of planning and controlling organisational performances in order to reduce uncertainty. (High Uncertainty/Avoidance Index)

After several years of studying in New Zealand, my leadership style has also been influenced by New Zealand culture. I also believe that staff (supervisors and employees) should work together as equal team members. (Low Power/Distance Culture) Management should be open mined and willing to reasonable changes in order to improve organisational performances. (Low Uncertainty/Avoidance Index)

Personality profiling systems evaluations

(Appendix A)

Conclusion

After comparing with two leaders (Mother Teresa and Mohandas Gandhi), I gained a better understanding of personal leadership abilities (strength and weakness).

Personality profiling systems results are attached in appendix.

The purpose of this essay is to conduct a Leadership Development Plan which is the second part of the whole assignment.

Leadership Development Plan

Introduction of current abilities

To my understanding, a successful leader should have the following qualities as following:

Basic knowledge and technical skill of the job

Communication skills

Leadership skills with self-confidence

I have had several opportunities to act as a leader in my previous work experience.

Supervisor in an internet cafe

Project team leader in a website develop company

Based on my work performance, I have been evaluated as a team player and active team leader with the following strength.

Strength:

Straight forward trouble shooting: when I work, I was always concentrating on the work completely. Because of my technical skills, I was able to provide solutions and meet the requirements right away.

Responsible and reliable: I was responsible on my own job requirements, and able to complete tasks on time with clients' satisfaction.

Leading by example: when I work, I was able to follow the business instruction and meet the clients' requirements as well as other team members or better. When I asked the team members to do work overtime or on own private time in order to complete the job on time, I was willing to the same too.

But I was also criticised with the following weakness.

Weakness:

Not forward looking: There are a lot of new technologies coming out every day over the world. I don't have the desire of learning new things.

Lack of communication skills: As a team leader or a customer consultant, my communication skill is very poor. It is very important for a leader for retain clients' loyalty with a good communication. Such as speaking skills. Although I don't have problems to job-related conversation, when there is a need for a social talk, I find myself very ignorant and word less.

Easy to be influenced: As a team leader, I was not able to influence and motivate the team members to work efficiently. Every time they come up with an excuse or personal reason, I don't have the ability to maintain them in a working attitude. I always jump into their businesses and complete their tasks for them instead. I don't have the desire and ability to argue or negotiate with them.

As a over sea student, I consider myself very lucky for having a lot of free time and work permit. So I think I have the following opportunities for my leadership development plan:

Opportunity:

Opportunity of self studying: A lot of new technologies are coming out every, it is necessary for me to keep update my knowledge by myself. As a student, I have a lot of time to do so.

Opportunity of further education: I am a student of Business in Victoria Institution, in order to gain better understanding of business and improve personal communication skills.

Opportunity of learning in real working environment: As a full time student, I have a work permit 20 hours weekly. I have opportunities to learn and improve my leadership skill through a real job.

Further development plan

Goals:

Self studying:

Through continuing self-study, I will maintain and enhance my current knowledge and skills of Information Technology. My current job gives me opportunities to keep on practicing.

I will also update knowledge of new technologies and other approved computer languages.

Further education:

Thought studying in Victoria Institution, I will upgrade my understanding of business especially in New Zealand. I will improve my communication skills in both business working environment and social situation through studying in class.

Learning leadership skills in real working environment:

Through part-time working, I will gain more working experiences by observing how the other leaders' work. I will take all the chances to practicing those skills in daily work.

Outcomes:

Self studying:

Short-term

Through self-studying, I improve my technology skill by practice.

Long-term

I hope I can be a professional programmer not only in website designing but also in software developing.

Further education:

Short-term

Through hard studying in class, I will get good understanding in theories approved by tutors.

Long-term

I will get my citification in two years time and probably continue my further education in university.

Learning leadership skills in real working environment:

Short-term

I will keep my job and get positive references from my current job.

I will learn more leadership skills by observing and practicing.

Long-term

I will get a full-time job after graduation from Victoria Institution.

Strategies:

Self studying:

I will read news and articles often (such as New Zealand Harold), and keep myself aware about what's going on outside, such as new technologies coming out recently. Through reading, I will also improve my English.

Measures: It can be measured and controlled by myself.

Time Frame: Continue studying through all the time.

Resourcing Required: News and article from internet, Documentations from public libraries

Further education:

Following tutors' instructions, I will learn conceptual knowledge and skills structurally for improving my leadership skills. I will be participant in class, learning from tutors'' own experiences and discussing with classmates.

Measures: It can be measured by the tutors' professional opinions and school assessments.

I will take chance to practice my knowledge and skills at my work place. I will take the chance to practice all the theories I have learnt in class, in order to gain a better understanding and improve my leadership skills. I will also learn leadership skills from my supervisor or managers during working.

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